Jamestown resident Colleen Williams gives her neighbor Leon Hill, right, a hug early in the morning along James Canyon drive in Jamestown, CO on September 15, 2013. The town has been completely destroyed from the Colorado floods. (Photo by Helen Richardson, The Denver Post)

Mental health professionals are particularly concerned about those who lost homes and jobs, saying they are at an increased risk of suicide. Several free options are available.

For those in immediate crisis, there is the Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1.800.273.TALK (8255).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also offering tips for friends, neighbors and family members of those affected by last month’s flooding. A CDC website offers help in talking to children about the trauma, helping families find new housing, preventing violence after a natural disaster and coping tips.

A day after Gov. John Hickenlooper announced proposals to strengthen mental health services, a new crisis line has been announced on the Western Slope.

Colorado West introduced the new crisis response service for the 10-county area including Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Mesa, Moffat, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt and Summit counties.

A toll-free call to 1-888-207-4004 will now connect people directly to trained clinicians to evaluate and help. Clinicians can then connect callers to appropriate community services to manage a mental health crisis. The emergency services number is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without exception.

Colorado West, a not-for-profit mental health services center, has been providing emergency services for more than 40 years. In the last year, the organization responded to nearly 7,000 crisis episodes in its 10-county area.

Electa Draper is the health writer for The Denver Post and has covered every news beat in a 22-year journalism career at three newspapers. She has a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in journalism.